Laptop Battery Life

saucybiscuits

Active member
so i got a used apple computer that is about a year old, and it is in very good condition. but the battery life seems to be a bit short. my battery lasts for about an hour and a half, and a lot of my friends computers can last from 2-3 hours and sometimes 4. so im wondering if i have an average battery life and my friends just have better batteries, or that the battery life has deteriorated after time, and if this is the case, can i repair it, or do i just have to get a new one?

++K for help
 
batteries slowly lose how much of a charge they can hold over time, but a year really isn't that long. Also, battery life depends on what you are using your computer for. If you are using a program that sucks a lot of energy such as final cut or photoshop, your battery won't last as long as say you playing minesweeper only. You go into your computer settings and adjust them for better battery life. Ways you can do that are to keep the screen dimmer, make the screen saver pop up quicker, etc
 
get a new one when the battery life is a big enough inconvenience to be worth the cost of getting a new one.
 
So many mac users and no one has said this yet?
Click on the apple on the top left of your screen.
Click on About this mac.
Then click on more infol.
on the left under contents you will see Hardware. Find Power under hardwear.
There it will give you your battery information.
Here is mine: (lasts around 2.5 hours if I am working with programs like photoshop and such. 3 hours if I'm only on the internet.)

Charge Information: Charge remaining (mAh): 4425 Fully charged: Yes Charging: No Full charge capacity (mAh): 4558 Health Information: Cycle count: 203 Condition: Good Battery Installed: Yes Amperage (mA): -1371 Voltage (mV): 12172
 
This is mine.

Charge Information:

Charge remaining (mAh): 4525

Fully charged: Yes

Charging: No

Full charge capacity (mAh): 4542

Health Information:

Cycle count: 129

Condition: Good

Battery Installed: Yes

Amperage (mA): -1205

Voltage (mV): 12433
 
192280-comic_book_guy_13018_large.jpg

 
To make your battery last longer in the long run, you should take it out while it's plugged into the wall. I don't know why this works, my dad just works with computers and tells me to do this.
 
yes and you should try and have it plugged in whenever possible. Constantly draining batteries and recharging them shortens their life.
 
Reset the system management controller (SMC)
how to:
http://www.support.apple.com/kb/HT1411

SummaryLearn more about the MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air's System Manager and how to reset it.This article refers to Apple's Intel-based portables manufactured February 2006 or later. For PowerPC-based products manufactured before that date, see "Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU)".Products AffectedMacBook Pro, MacBook, MacBook AirThe System Management Controller is an integrated circuit (computer chip) that is on the logic board of the computer. As the name implies, it is responsible for power management of the computer. It controls backlighting, hard disk spin down, sleep and wake, some charging aspects, trackpad control, and some input/output as it relates to the computer sleeping.Over time, the settings in the System Management Controller may become unusable, which can result in operational anomalies with the computer. Examples include not turning on, not waking from sleep, not charging the battery, or not recognizing the AC Adapter, among others.Resetting the SMC is not intended for resolution of a stall or situation in which the computer is unresponsive. An SMC reset should not be necessary except as a last resort in cases where a hardware issue with the power management system is suspected. Performing an SMC reset resets the hardware power management functions.For most situations, a restart is sufficient. If the computer has stopped responding, try each one of these steps, one by one. Test between each step to see if it has worked. If one step works, don't worry about the next one. You should only reset the SMC if you've tried all of the steps listed here and the computer still isn't working.Force Quit (Option-Command-Escape)Restart (Control-Command-Power)Force Shut Down (press the power button for 10 seconds)[/list]Only perform an SMC reset on the computer if none[/b] of the above steps resolved the situation. If this is the case, see below for instructions on locating the reset button or key combination for your model of computer. If your computer is earlier than the models listed here, see "Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU)" or "PowerBook: Resetting Power Management Unit (PMU)".MacBook (13 inch, Late 2008), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008), and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008)If the computer is on, turn it off.Disconnect the AC adapter and remove the computer's battery.Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds and then release the button.Reconnect the battery and AC Adapter.Press the power button to restart the computer[/list]Note:[/b] Starting with MacBook Pro (Late 2008) and MacBook (Late 2008) models, you may instead use the reset method for MacBook Air (below) to reset the SMC. All earlier models of MacBook and MacBook Pro must use the method described above, which involves removing the battery. MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (Late 2008 and later)If the computer is on, turn it off by choosing Shutdown[/b] from the Apple ()[/b] menu.Connect the power adapter to a working power source.On the built-in keyboard, press (left) Shift-Control-Option along with the power button once.Wait 5 seconds and press the power button to start the computer. [/list]Note[/b]: You must use the keys on the left side of the built-in keyboard.You should only perform an SMC reset when the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) has been properly shutdown. This prevents issues from occurring to the file system.While the power adapter does not need to be connected to reset the SMC, it may be necessary in situations where the battery needs charging or if the computer has been without power for an extended period of time. You can also visually check the SMC reset by observing the LED on the adapter. It will momentarily turn off as the SMC resets. [/b][/b]
 
Charge Information: Charge remaining (mAh): 6383 Fully charged: Yes Charging: No Full charge capacity (mAh): 6407 Health Information: Cycle count: 40 Condition: Good Battery Installed: Yes Amperage (mA): 0 Voltage (mV): 12494

some of your's was only like 4000 something, but mines 6000 some? idk what that means lol
 
Mine is pretty bad....
Charge Information: Charge remaining (mAh): 1437 Fully charged: No Charging: No Full charge capacity (mAh): 3961 Health Information: Cycle count: 359 Condition: Good Battery Installed: Yes Amperage (mA): -1398 Voltage (mV): 11119
but it still lasts for like 2 and a half hours...

 
mine has gotten so bad that it lasts maybe 1 full minute when its not plugged in, lol
 
I wish mine last one minute haha. It lasts about 2 seconds, so any time I want to move my laptop, I have to unplug it which turns it off. Most annoying thing but I'm too cheap to buy a new battery again.
 
i have the black macbook, at it literally will not stay on for an instant without being plugged in, in the battery part, it says no battery available.. its such a pain in the ass with just the magnet getting unplugged by accident.
has anyone else had this? what did you do ? +K
dont mean to threadjack just seems liek the same thing sorta
 
You can reset set something. buy turning off your computer and holding down, the power button for 5 seconds. Not really sure but its easy to find info about it.
 
try going to system preferences and click Energy Saver and see what you can find in there. How long have you had it for?
 
dang that sucks. I know new batteries are expensive but i'd say its worth it rather than all that hassle all the time
 
i did research about it from what i read its from water damage or something, which doesnt really make sense to me but the person said it would be like 3-4 hundred to fix since a new battery and something in the computer is needed.
im just trying to figure out if there is something else i can do or is someone had the same thing. ill try the battery later tonight , thanks
 
Battery Information:

Battery Installed: Yes

First low level warning: No

Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 1557

Remaining Capacity (mAh): 1555

Amperage (mA): 0

Voltage (mV): 12499

Cycle Count: 378

woo

i suck
 
i have two batteries. on the "good" one, i get over 2 hours. on the bad one, not so long. probably just under 2 hours. but again it depends on what youre doing. turn the screen brightness down when you are running from battery, that helps.
 
apple laptops dont ordinarily have long battery life anyway. but an hour and a half is still pretty short. you can buy a new battery from them but it isnt cheap...
 
At least you don't have a shitty, University "required" Gateway Tablet PC that I do. Unplugged, on powersaver mode, with the screen completely dimmed, I get 42 minutes of battery...

Fail.
 
GTFO. My battery on my macbook lasted 5 hours when I first got it. after 362 charges I still get 2 and a half hours. My mom has an Acer and her battery lasted 1 hour before it died when she bought it. She gets 25 minutes from her battery now. we bought them at the same time.
 
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